MotoArt

They're few in number, but mighty in vision.
Together, they're tackling the $30 billion office supply industry, one that's
seen few innovators in recent decades. Some of these startups are
developing products that change the function of office supplies to aid people's
health or work. Others are finding new ways to sell products to appeal to a
tech and design-savvy customer.

The pair of entrepreneurs building desks and tables
in a hangar at the Los Angeles Airport are a perfect example. Called MotoArt,
they're shipping in old plane parts (wings, engines, turbines, wheels, etc)
from around the world to use in 100 and more differentfurniture
designs, letting people own a part of aviation history.

Click through our slideshow to see where more innovation is happening in
the office.

MotoArt

Rad and Hungry

These flower-scented pencils from Portugal are an example of the offerings of Rad and Hungry, a Seattle e-commerce startup that curates and sells limited edition office supplies from around the world as a subscription service. Founder Hen Chung started the site in 2010 in part to appease her unique office supply obsession. She plans to soon release a Rad and Hungry line of products too.

Rad and Hungry

Visionnaire Fine Writing Instruments

A fancy fountain pen called Visionnaire has been wowing Kickstarter
contributors this month, surpassing the San Francisco designer's $15,000 goal by
almost $230,000 with a month left to go. The pen promises a deeper connection
between the person and the instrument and better expression of the creative
mind. And the designer envisions it as an historical item to pass down between
generations.

Perhaps the funding campaign suggests we're ready to be inspired by our
supplies instead of only appreciating their utility.

Kickstarter

Focal Upright Furniture

Martin Keen is all about designing products
for the people who use them. He started with feet, creating the innovative
outdoor-oriented KEEN Footwear, and has since moved to
furniture, specifically the kind office workers use. Focal
Upright Furniture launched in Rhode Island in 2012 with the
Locus Workstation, an upright ergonomic desk and seat now being used by workers
at Google, TOMS Shoes and Wikimedia.

Its second product called the Mogo seat is designed to ensure good posture
and weighs only two pounds so it can be carried and set up anywhere.

Focal Upright Furniture

myType Keyboard

If you've used a Bluetooth keyboard with an iPad or iPhone previously, you already
know one perk of themyType Keyboard. It turns a mobile device into a
more convenient and efficient email, document creation and editing tool. But
there's another perk to the myType—it's made of light and soft silicone rubber instead
of hard plastic, and can be folded to fit inside a pocket.

Kickstarter contributors are responding so far, surpassing the Phoenix
founder's goal of $10,000 by nearly $70,000 with nine days left of the campaign. The first
keyboards will be shipped in August.

myType Keyboard

Poppin

The New York startup launched in September 2012 by Tory Burch ex and
serial entrepreneur Chris Burch is bringing design and color into the
office and school supply industry. Poppinbegan with an e-commerce site, selling 250 of its own designs for desktop and
kitchen supplies, writing and paper and desks, chairs, filing cabinets and
other office furniture. And those items are all offered in colors as unique
(for the office world) as lime green, pink and aquamarine.

It has raised $17 million from investors like Shasta Ventures and First Round Capital. In June, Poppin began to sell its products in Staples and Staples.com.

Poppin

Blegalbloss

Blegalblosshas spent the last three years re-creating the cardboard file box and snapping up patents for its ergonomic, security-focused design. The company, which is relocating from Ohio to South Florida this fall, is now selling boxes and cardboard organizers in Staples and OfficeMax as it continues to roll out new products. Its big goal is to re-imagine all sorts of office supplies to better serve workers and students in the 21st century.

Blegalbloss

Chalkfly

A pair of brothers from Detroit moved back to their hometown last year
to bring innovation to office and school supply e-commerce sales. Now
with more than 50,000 items for sale on Chalkfly, they've raised $750,000, hired 10 people and are
on track to bring in $2 million in revenue this year.

What's different about Chalkfly, says co-founder Andrew Landau, is a
focus on the customer, with 24/7 customer service, a no-hassle return policy, free
overnight shipping to most of the U.S. and a promise to donate 5 percent of
every sale to teachers.